Manila Bulletin

Open water, swim races in Boracay

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After the triumphant Luzon leg, FINIS Philippine­s travels South to boost open water and swimming events through the FINIS Boracay Newcoast Open Water Festival in Boracay Island, Aklan on May 11-15.

FINIS Philippine­s Managing Director Coach Vince Garcia said they line up four exciting events for water sports enthusiast­s as well as for the country's best tankers: The Kids of Steel Triathlon - Visayas Leg, the Green Aquathlon, the Open Water Swim, and the Caticlan-Boracay Channel Crossing Fun Swim.

"It would be more of an investment to make it an annual event that will keep growing next year and the year after and so on," said Garcia, as he expressed his optimism to carry the momentum with more sporting events in the Visayas through this event.

FINIS tied up with Megaworld's Belmont Hotel, now the event's official hotel partner, as the latter is extending discounts to participan­ts and their entourage. Garcia also expressed their gratitude to the local government units for their undying support and coordinati­on.

"We'd like to thank Aklan governor Honorable Florencio Miraflores for endorsing our events and likewise for the assistance of Malay Municipal Mayor Honorable Floribar Bautista in making these events possible,” said Garcia.

The online registrati­on for the four events is still ongoing and available on the

RaceYaya website.

The Open Water Festival kicks off its first race with the Caticlan Channel Crossing Fun Swim – from Tabon Port in the Municipali­ty of Caticlan to Manoc-Manoc Beach in Boracay – on May 13.

The FINIS Green Aquathlon dubbed as the race for the environmen­t starts on May 14 with events in 2.5K run, 800m swim, and 2.5K run course for adults It will have eight age groups (16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-Above) for the male athletes and four age groups (16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-Above) for the female athletes.

Meanwhile, the kids' aquathlon will have four age groups for the boys and girls: 6-Under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15. Course distances of each kids age group are 50m swim and 200m run (6-Under), 100m swim and 200m (7-8 age group), 200m swim and 1K run (9-10 age group), 300m swim, and 2K run (11-12 age group), and 400m swim and 4K run (13-15 age group).

Also, on May 14, the Visayas leg of the Kids of Steel (KOS) triathlon will take place at the Boracay Newcoast with five age categories with different course distances: 6-Under (50m swim, 700m bike, and 200m run), 9-10 (200m swim, 2K bike, and 1.5km run, 11-12 (200m swim, 4K bike, and 1.5km run), and 13-15 (300m swim, 8K bike, 2K run), while the Open Water Swim Series will be at the Boracay Newcoast on May 15.

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